Couple Charged with Running Gruesome Dog Fighting Ring

Thursday, December 13th, 2012 at
11:17 am

This lovely couple is Shane L. Santiago and Laura Acamparo, both 33, of the 1300 block of North Manor Road in West Brandywine Township, PA. They’ve been charged with a variety of crimes including cruelty to animals and endangering the welfare of children after it was discovered they were running a dog fighting ring out of their basement, in the same home where they were ‘raising’ five children!

Be warned that some of the details are graphic!

Authorities became alerted to this “House of Horrors” after finding several dead pitbulls in the area, an almost sure sign of a dog fighting ring close by. Investigators began probing the county for dog-fighting activity after two pit bulls were found, one maimed and one burned alive in its cage, along the sides of area roads. Radar, who was found badly mauled in February and left for dead in a roadside ravine, is currently recovering under the care of the Chester County SPCA. Another pit bull was found dead, caged and burned, along Route 82 in West Brandywine in September.

Santiago’s name came to attention when he was arrested during a drug investigation. They also heard reports of large numbers of people coming and going, many with dogs further indicating a dog fighting ring.

The next break came when Santiago and Acampora were being evicted from their home in West Brandywine and the owner allowed investigators to examine the house for evidence.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan displays disturbing photos taken at a West Brandywine Township residence, where a couple allegedly ran a dog-fighting ring.

“When we got into that home, what we found was a nightmare,” Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. “This was a full-scale operation of not only dog fighting, but dog training, dog breeding and dog killing.”

Investigating the rented home after the eviction, it quickly dubbed the “House of Horrors” due to the blood caked walls and carpets, they also found a coaxial cable, formed into a hanging noose, a blood spattered wood fighting ring in the basement and a book entitled “Fighting for Life” as well as injured and malnourished dogs. Investigators also found a dead pit bull puppy wrapped in trash bags in a trash can.

“That residence was a house of pain and horror for the dogs that lived there. The defendants’ dogs lived by one rule: Fight and win, or die,” according to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Craig Baxter of the Chester County SPCA shows some of the training devices found at the West Brandywine Township residence.

Santiago, who must have been reading from Michael Vick’s playbook, admitted to killing at least 10 dogs saying that if a dog quit during a fight, it would be executed by one of several methods, including hanging, drowning, and electrocution.

According to the affidavit of probably cause Santiago related a story on one dog the bit his daughter while she was feeding it. Santiago said that after he freed his daughter from the dog’s grip, he executed the animal by hanging.

Santiago told investigators that he and Acampora “were planning on making the training and fighting of pit bull dogs a family business,” the complaint said. He said he had planned to host two upcoming dog-fighting matches in his home – one in December and one in January, the complaint said.

Santiago and Acampora are charged with more than 30 counts of animal cruelty, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty. Both are being held in Chester County Prison and are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on a long list of charges stemming from the arrest.

Authorities believe they’ve dealt a major blow to dog fighting in Chester County.

“Usually you are catching one person who’s got a couple dogs, who just happened to be hosting a fight that day. Who we caught is the person running the main dogfighting operation in Chester County,” Hogan said. “It’s like catching the top of the drug pyramid as your first step.”

“For the dogs that were held by this defendant, the nightmare is over. They are either dead or we have rescued them. But for tens of thousands of dogs across the United States, the nightmare continues. They are still being used for dog fighting.”

Will there be justice? Only time will tell but I could think of some sentences worthy of these paragons of virtue…

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24 Comments

From the mom-
And Vick’s legacy lives on “Santiago, who must have been reading from Michael Vick’s playbook”. I know this is probably not related and dog-fighting has been going on for AGES but who’s to say that what Vick did – has not perpetuated the act of dog’fighting. This couple is sick and I seriously hope and pray they are denied from ever owning another dog and permanently denied access to their children. What this couple has done to their children is only proof-positive they (parents) are not capable of anything human. Any animal is capable of reproducing but actually nuturing them in a SAFE environment – that is a responsibility the parents are incapable of showing. There are a couple of psychiatric diagnoses floating around in my head right now that fit this couple but I will NOT use them here on this board. Those diagnoses could also be applied to them for their treatment of the dogs. I would love for Michael Vick to see this but he would just deny any responsibility – he’s done that before and is incapable of owning any responsibility.
Kim

I can only hope that while in prison some really nasty, horrible things are done to both of them. Perhaps it would be good to castrate him and see that she can never have any more kids. These so called humans do not deserve to live and should be moved from society.

Hanging, electrocution and or drowning is too good for these too “people” I would get two of the meanest dogs that will never be able to have a forever family again because of aggression from dog fighting and make the woman (and I use the term loosely) fight one of em while her boyfriend watches the pit rip her apart while he is helpless. Then it is his turn.

Justice is served. Kids are raised by a different set of parents and the only mouths we have to feed are two hero pit bulls for doing what they were taught to do. I would even buy the food for the rest of their lives then.

Is it cruel yes but it would show other dog fighters what would happen to them if caught red handed like these two scum suckers. And no 20 years worth of appeals. They found the evidence, they admitted. Judge gives them the penalty. No chance for life without parole and sentence HAS to be carried out within 6 months…….

I agree to an extent. These people that torture and cause suffering should have to endure what they have caused, but not unto death. They should be put in a room with some of the same dogs they have breed to be fighters and should have to endure being attacked under controlled circumstances. After having to endure some suffering and pain for a period of time, they should be locked up and be forced with hard labor for the rest of their lives. They should have to face a miserable existence until they die. What is wrong with people???

This is totally disgusting. I agree, Michael Vick has written the textbook on dog fighting and scum jump to the chance to emulate him. Look at what these people have taught their children.

I said it before and I will say it again. If animal abuse is not reigned in with the toughest penalties, 100 years from now you’re going to hear “But it was just a little boy…just a little girl.” Mark my words.

I can only agree with everything said. I truly hope justice comes while they are in jail. Hope the news of their cruelty to both the animals and the children is known in prison and the prisoners and maybe the guards take care of these worthless scum. I fear the courts will let these scum have their children back. I wish there were a way for the public to make stink of judges that release scum to hurt others. The judges are untouchable. 5 kids more for the state to care for in the meantime. Hope the dogs are getting the care and love they deserve. What took the landlord so long?

If people like this were punished accordingly, maybe they would think twice before engaging in this type of horrifying activity. If it were up to me, it would be a very long time before either one of them saw the light of day, but unfortunately it’s not. In my opinion,domesticated animals are as helpless and need our protection as much as children do. I sure wish our politicians and lawmakers felt as strongly as some of us do when it comes to our furry friends. I’d like to tie them up and let the dogs get their revenge!!

Stupid acts like this, is the EXACT reason why pitbulls have a bad rap. Its NOT the dog, its the moron, or in this case, a couple of morons (literally) that are to blame. Its just like their lovely parenting skills, 5 young children will probably grow up to think its cool, and do drugs and be assholes because of what their ‘parents’ taught them…. because of the raising of those poor dogs to be like that, those dogs are dead all because they weren’t taught any better.
There are pitbulls used for special needs for kids, you know why? BECAUSE THEY WERE TRAINED PROPERLY! Dogs are like children, whatever you teach, they will do. They have no guidance from anyone else, you are their future.
-and yes. These bastards should be mauled like they made the dogs. Except do one better, chain them to a fence, lather them with meat juices and sausage links, then relase hungry bears and tigers…. I hope they burn in hell

I agree but I think both of them should watch each other suffer, I would raise her kids and I would try to help by dog food as I believe in loving dogs my labs are trained to help me to get on my bed when I fall as I am disabled and they can even get the phone and hit the numbers till operator or someone picks up and the bark if something wrong they are well behaved dogs and my kids are so willing to walk them and play with them and I have always been disabled since my baby was born and as you see I have very loving caring dogs and kids yet they also know how to protect themselves and our home

Words cannot describe, how I feel about these sick and disgusting people and the horror those dogs went through. I feel physically ill. this is just one ring, they go on worldwide, lets these rings one by one – People unite for the voiceless! Also I hope they never see their child again. Parents?? I dont think so. that child needs to go into loving caring, “Normal Home” and be taught how civil people live, and take care of each other AND THEIR ANIMALS….

These monsters need to be held responsible for their acts of evil and should rot for what they have done dogs are for loving families not for fighting and deserve a good life full of love these monsters deserve whatever comes to them

I am a retired animal cruelty investigator and what people don’t realize is this couple are actually small time fighters. They are just small fish in a big pond. Until the courts start taking big bucks out of the fighters pockets it will continue. This couple are just sick human beings that get off on watching pain and suffering of the innocent. What is sad is Yes they will probably do some jail time because of the publicity but as soon as they are out like alot of these small time worthless human beings. They will just slink away to another town and start all over again. I wish all the pain and suffering they so deserve but let me make a suggestion. Hold your dogs tight. Never let them out of your sight. and give them an extra hug tonight. All the Rescue groups and animal lovers don’t ever stop or give up because every 1 that we save is 1 less that will end up in the hands of evil. This is the type of thing that has caused me to like humans less and less and cry more and more because at the hands of humans there are worse things than death for the only creatures that truly give unconditional love.

Justice in this case would be to HANG these two POS. They do not deserve to breathe air. They hanged some of these dogs and the same should be done to them. Just make it a slow and painful death so electrocute them as their hanging starts!

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Deanna RaekeDog Lover & Proud Pet Parent

Passionate when it comes to my canine companions as well as dogs everywhere, it's my mission to raise awareness of any issues that affect them, from their health, food and nutrition and training to their welfare. Canine advocacy is something that everyone who cares about dogs needs to be aware of and we all need to share that and raise our voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

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